Farm tractor



L. M. GARDINER.

FARM TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1918. 1,409, 1 65. Pa e ted Mar- 14, 1922.

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FARM TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-4, I918. 1 ,409, 1 65. Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

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L. M. GARDINER.

FARM TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED uov.4.191s.

Patented Mar. 14-, 1922.

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FARM'TRACTOR.

' APPLICATION FILED Nov.4. 19m. 1,409, 1 65. Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

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PATENT OFFICE.

LOU M. GARDINER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE IRON HORSE TRACTOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FARM TRACTOR.

,particularly to farm tractors, the machine being especially adapted work on and about farms.

()ne of the principal objects of the invention is to produce a combined walking and wheeled tractor, the construction of which enables feither method of propulsion to be used according to varying conditions in the soil and road bed. By using the walking traction means for propelling the may be propelled over the ground, with little or no packing effect on the soil, at the saine time obtaining the necessary ti '(tion for propulsion purposes so loose that an, ordinary wheeled tractor could not operate. lhej-.valking or profor all kinds of use break up or puncture the subsoil to a r degree according to the work iu tiie nature of the crop to be while the traction wheels may be use-d where the grounder soil is hard, the wheeled traction means being particularly useful in traveling over the roadways to and from the field to be plowed or performed in cultivated.

i"; furtherobject of the invention is to provide means whereby the pitch or working angles of the traction legs may be varied to suit different soil conditions.

Another object in features above'set forth, may be adapted for side hill work, either for plowing or ditching,

A further object of the invention is to provide traction leg propelling means capable of being adapted for use in (Ultivating corn, beets, rotton. and all cultivated vegetation.

Another object in view is to provide a tractor of the general character above referred to, in which the wheeled traction means of the traction legs may be either concurrently or independently brought into use, and by means ofwvhich either traction Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fi led November 4, 1918.

hereinafter fully described are iew is to provide means whereby the machine, embodying the i atented Mar. 14, 1922. Serial No. 261,012.

means may be incidentally thrown into and out of use at any time required.

y means of the construction herein shown and described, the plow pan may be punctured or broken up, thereby aerating and fertilizing the subsoil and forming moisture holding or retaining pockets. This enables a full crop of vegetation to be obtained with a greatly reduced rainfall as compared with the ordinary well known method of cultivation. construction hereinafter described, greater traction is obtained in actual field work, and the soil is not packed, but on the contrary loosenedL so as to obtain nutriment from the soil which ordinarily underlies the plow pan.

the invention consists in the novel construe-- tion, combination and arrangement herein fully described, illustrated and clainied.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is av plan view of the tractor.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig-u re 3 is an enlarged vertical cross section on the line 33 of Figure 2. 7

Figure at is an enlarged fragmental vertica longitudinal section on the line 4&4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmental vertical fore and aft section illustrating the; frame raising and lowering means.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section of the same.

The frame of the tractor comprises the main longitudinal members 1, which may be connected by suitable cross members. The main frame also comprises oppositely arranged laterally off set frame members 2, the latter being in spaced relation to the frame members 1, as best illustrated in the plan view, Figure 1. 3 designates the front traction wheels and ,4 the rear steering wheels, the latter being mounted upon the rear axle 5, which is adapted to turn on a substantially vertical king post 6 and is actuated for steering movement by means'of a sector gear 7, which meshes with and is adapted to be actuated by'a gear 8 on a substantially vertical steering shaft- 9 provided at the top thereof with a hand wheel 10, in rear of which is located the operators seat 11. 12 designates the rear frame sup porting spring, which is centrally connected to the frame and connected at its opposite ends to the axle 5.

The rear axle 5 and the spring 12am disposed in the illustrated bifurcationof the king post 6, and the spring 12 is connected to the frame through the medium of the king 7 post (i.

Figure 2 and mg axles or shafts 21, the latter be ng in.

tion of the axle or relation to the center 24c and is surmounted by The motor or engine designated at 13 is mounted upon the machine frame and the shaft 14: thereof has a fly wheel 15-fast thereon. The shaft 14 extends forwardly into the housing 16111 the transmission gearing and has fast thereon a gear 17 which meshes with the superimposed speed reducing gear on a drive shaft' 19, also journaled within the housing 16 or; an extension thereof. The shaft 19 which is driven at a. lower speed than-the shaft 14, extends forwardly and is provided in front'of the housing 16 with a universal joint 20, the forward'section of said'shaft 19, in advance of the universal joint 20 inclining. downwardly, as shown in being geared to the front drivturn geared to the front traction wheels 3 by reduction gears, as indicated by the posishaft 21in Figure 2. in of the front driving wheel'3 therein shown. The wheels 3 are mounted upon a main fl'ontaxle '22, which is best shown in Figure 6, and the load thereon is yieldingly supported by means of a front frame supporting spring 23, connected at its'opposite ends to the axle and fastened at the center point to the ".ertically adjustable bolsterQd. having a centrally threaded bore to receive a vertical adjusting screw 25: The adjusting screw 25 is journaled at points above and below the spring 23 in the upper and lower portions 26 and 27 of a head member or guide 28, the latter being provided with oppositely extending lugs 29 fastened to the forwardly elevatedp'ortion's 30 of the main longitudinal frame members 1. The means forrotating the screw 95 isshewn as consisting of a countershaft 31, having an operating crank orhandle '32 thereon and connected by gears 33 and 3a with said adjusting screw 25, as shown in Figure 5. The head 28 serves as a guide for the vertically adjustable bolster a housing 35 "whi ch encloses the gears 33 and 34 and also forms bearings for the shat 31 and the upper portion of thescrew I Manifestly the described connection of the forward portion of the frame with the spring 23permits of lateral canting or tilt ing of the forward portion of the frame against the action of, one or the other of the supplemental retractile springs (37 here inafter described;

The forward extension lE) of the driving shaft 19 is journaled. in a bearing 36 carried by a forked yoke 37, which is connected by oppositely located pivots 38 to a supporting stand 39, which is also forked as shown to provide clearance for the universal joint 20.v The supporting stand 39 is'fixedly secured to and extends forwardly ,froma bracket 40, fastened to the main all parts mounted upon said frame. 'The' raising and lowering means are provided mainly for the purpose of throwing the other propelling or other traction means into and out ofoperatiomwlnch other pro= pellin'g means will now be described.

Located at opposite sidesof themachine V and immediately above the laterall'yfolfset frame membersQ are supporting beamsfll, which extend in fore and aft direction and are fixedly supported in place by means of uprights 42, extending upwardly from the n frame members 2. The beams or frame members ll are of tubular formation, one

of said frame members being illustrated, in detall 111'.F1g1116 l. Each of said frame members 41 contains front and rear runners 43 and li, respectively, each of said runners being movable longitudinally in and of the frame member'll', the latter acting as a guide for said runners. Extending longi tudinally through each tubular housing or frame member a1, is a rotatable feed screw 45, having at the rear end thereof a gear 46, the gears 46'0f the two feed screws 45 being in mesh with gearswlT 'on a transversely extending countershaft 48, having means'for rotating. the latter, said means being shown in the form of a'handl crank 49. It will, of course, be apparent, however, that motion may be imparted to the shaft i8 by any means'located at any desired point on the machine. By operating the shaft 48 the feed screws 4L5 are simulta neously operated, said screws serving to shift the runners 4C3 and ii forwardly orrearwardly according to the direction in which the feed screws 45 are turned. The runners 43 and 44; extend upwardly through 'and work in slots 50- in the frame members or housings ll, and are provided with bearings 51 which have a pair of transversely extending guide supporting shafts or rods 52 arranged. in spaced relation to each other and each having mounted loosely a screw, 60, as shown in Figure 2. It will now be s'een'as the crank shafts 55 and 56 are rotated, the lower end portions of the traction legs 54 are caused to describe approximately circular paths, so as to engage and disengage the soil or ground over which the "machine is being operated. At this point it should be noted that incidental to the movement of the pivotal connection of each .leg bearing member 58 through the" lower half of a circle, the leg 54 complementary thereto is movedinto and withdrawn from the ground; also, that said semi-circular movement is attended by forward traverse of the tractor, with the result that the down and up movements of the leg 54 are perpendicular to: the ground, and

there is no kicking action'on the part of the leg 54against the ground. On the other hand each leg 54 after being moved perpendicularly endwise into the ground," reacts laterally in a rearward direction on the ground and affords ample purchase and in that way contributes materially to the traction capacity of the'leg as the machine is moved forwardly and catches-up with the embedded leg, as it were,'andthen the leg is withdrawn endwise and perpendicularly from the ground- Detachable and interchangeable hoofs 61 are preferably though not necessarily applied to the-lower extremities of the traction legs 54, and it will be apparent that the hoofs'61 may be of any size and of various shapes according to the soil being operated upon and the depth of penetration required to penetrate the soil, tobreak through and puncture the sub-soil below the plow pan.

By adjusting the traction legs 54 upwardly and downwardly in relation to the. bearing members 58, the depth of penetration may be changed. It will also be observed that by adjusting the shafts or rods 52 forwardly or rearwardly, the pitch" or working angle of the traction legs may be varied in accordance with soil or other conditions, such as when ascending or descending a grade, or for side hill work in plow ditching and the like, the traction legs on the lower side may be adjusted downwardly, while the traction legs on the upper side may be elevated. This enables the frame 55 and 56, by means of leg driving shafts 62,

mounted in bearings 63 on the machine frame at a higher elevation than the. crank shafts 55 and 56 and geared to the latter by means of gears 64 and 65. =The crank shafts 55 and 56 at opposite sides of the center may be driven independently by means of the gears 65, there being one gear 65 for each of the crank shafts. This enables the tractor legs at one side of the machine to be operated independently of those at the opposite end of the machine. This renders it easy to steer the machine and make a very short turn, practically a right angle turn, which is'important, for example, at the end of a row of plants being-cultivated. 6T designates the before mentioned, supplemental'oppositely arranged side shock absorbing and cushioning springs, the upper ends of which areattached to laterally projecting arms 68 of the machine frame, and the lower ends of which are attached to the axle 22 by collars 69, or equivalent means. 70 designates a gear shifting lever, from whichan operating rod 71 extends to the gear shifting mechanism notshown, but enclosed bythe housing 16 above referred to. The shafts 62 are actuated by a gear 72 wvhich meshes with a worm 73 on the engine shaft 14, as shown in Figure 3; the shafts 62 being preferably clutched to the gear 72, as indicated by 75, so that either or both of said shafts 62 may be driven at the desire of the operator.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will now be seen that either the traction wheels 3, or the traction legs 54, may be employed for propelling the tractor. and that said traction members may be con currently used, if so desired. Ordinarily the tractor will be driven to and from the field upon the traction wheels 3. Ordinarily also in field work, such as plowing and cultivating, the frame of the tractor will be lowered to the position slunvn in Figure 2, so that the tractor will operate under the power of the traction legs alone, at which time the traction wheels 3 will be elevated clear of the ground. Should an emergency require, the wheels 3 may be quickly brought into use so that both traction means may be employed to extricate the machine. For example from a difficult position, by using v onaopposite-sides I moved, leavingonly sufficient traction legsv as a b;

the-- traction .legs"54,the sub-soil is broken and the plowpan is punctiired or indented,

thereby jlforming moisture, retaining. buckets in theplow pan and renderingit practicable to produce a full crop With-a material re duction in the normal rain fall; For strad dle row. work .the intermediate traction legs of the machine may be re- =10 .to operate on opposite sides of two vorthree.

claimed is 1. A tractorembodying a frame, a motor,

thereon,-ztraction Wheels, traction legs each mounted .for oscillatory movement in a fore *and aft direction to swing forwardly andrearwardly of a vertical line and adapted to.

puncture the plow pan during such oscillatory movement, a crank shaft driven by said inotor, and leg bearing members journaled on said crank shaft and having rigid sleeve portions through which said legs are adjustable, toregulate the depth of penetration of the legs 2. A-tractor embodying a frame, a motor; thereon, traction wheels, traction legs eachmounted for. oscillatory movement in. a fore and aft direction-to swing forwardly and i rearwardlyof a vertical line and adapted to puncture the plow pan during such oscil- 4 latory movement, a crank shaft driven by said motor, andleg bearing members journaled on said crank shaft and havingrigid sleeve portionsthrough which said 'adj'ustableto regulate the depth of penetration of the legs, and oscillatory guiding sleeves for said legs above said crank shaft.

7 3. A tractor embodyinga frame, a motor thereon, traction wheels, traction legs each mounted for oscillatory movement in a fore and aft direction 'to swingforwardly andv rearwardly of a vertical line and adapted to puncture the plow pan during such 0scilla-.

tory movement, a crank shaft'driven by said motor, and leg bearing members journaled on said crank shaft and having rigid sleeve portions through which said legs are adjust- V able to regulate the depth of penetration of the legs,.andoscillatory guiding sleeves forsaid legs above said crank shaft,and means for shifting said guiding sleeves in afore groundand movable bythe cranks. o v

5. ln a tractor thef combination 'of a,

and properly culti- Having described the invention, what is legs arev V andwalking ground-engaging means carried:

7 and aft direction to vary the'mean angle of thrust of'the legs. 4.;In a tractor, the combination of a wheeled frame, and walking ground-engag ing means carried by the frame the said means including a support,.oscillatory guides mounted to swing about the same, a shaft l0cated=in ahorizontal plane below thatof the support and provided with cranks, and

ground-engaging legs movable endwise. in.

the :oscillatoryguides and connected with wheeled frame, and walkingground-engag mg means carr ed by theframe, the said means includinga. support, oscillatory guides mounted. to swmgon the same, shaftsjar-v;

ranged at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the tractor and inavhorizolntal plane below that ofvsaid,support andepror vided with cranks, ground-engaging ,legs movable endwise in theguides andconnected with. said cranks and arranged in groups separated .by a longitudinal ntervening:

tary to) the-shafts.- I v p 6. In a tractor, the combination of a wheeled frame, means-to move the same, a support thereon, oscillatory guides on the support, reciprocatory and oscillatoryi trac space. and driving connections complementionlegs movable endwise in said guides, a.

shaft disposed in a horizontal planerbelow that of said support and providedwith cranks, and means connecting the' traction' legs and-the cranks whereby incidental-to the rotation ofthe cranks the lower portions of the traction legs areimoved through circles, said inoveinentof the lower portions of the traction legs beingflatten'ded by forward" movement of the tractor with the vresultthat ion the-tractor legs are caused to penetrate and;

leave the ground perpendicularly.

7. In a tractor, the comblnatlon of a frame,

by the; frame,: the said means including a support, oscillatory guides mounted to swing about the same, a shaft located in a horizontal plane below that of the support and provided with cranks, and ground-engaginglegs 'movable, endwise inthe oscillatory guides and, connected cranks. 7 i

A power. plant comprising a frame, power. driven crank shafts. ournaled there-v on, walkinglegs operated/by said crank shafts,'andguides for the legs, shiftable to increase or diminishthelength of step of the legs. V V a In testimony whereof]: alfixmy signature.

LOU M. GARDINE R.

with and movable by the. 

